Dispensing package of flexible articles of sheet material



Feb. 6, '1951 Patented Feb. 6, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT orm DISPENSING PACKAGE F FLEXIBLE ARTICLES OF SHEET MATERIAL Harold G. Towne, :llVestboi'o, Mass., assignor to Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framing- 'ham, (lVIass.,- a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,734

3 Claims. I

This invention relates to packages of small articles of sheet material, such as reinforcing rings of paper or cloth, and to a dispenser for such articles. Heretofore it has been customary to package such articles in boxes and, as well known; it is troublesome to pick them out one lby one, particularly since they tend to stick .together.

The object of the present invention is to provide a package from which the articles can be easily and quickly extracted one by one without the necessity of opening the package and without danger of spilling the articles accidentally.

The present invention involves an envelope comprising front and back sides united along the edge at 180 fold lines so that the two sides are juxtaposed, the envelope having a. dispensing opening along the edge the width of which is slightly less than the width of the articles so that each article has to be compressed slightly to slide through the opening, and one side of the envelope being cut away at the opening to afford contact by the thumb or finger with an article presented to the opening, whereby the article may be removed through the opening. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a paper envelope having a filling opening at one end and a flap to close the opening, the aforesaid dispensing openingybeing located at one of the other two corners of the envelope and both sides of the envelope being cut away adjacent the dispensing opening so that an article presented to the opening may be gripped between the thumb and finger.

For the purpose of illustration a. typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower end of the envelope;

Fig. 3 is a section of the the envelope;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a reinforcing ring.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises an envelope i of paper or the like folded so that the margins overlaps at 2, the overlapping margins being cemented together. At the bottom a flap 3 is cemented over the overlapping margins and at the top a flap 4 is provided to close the filling opening at that end.

According to this invention one of the lower corners of the envelope is cut away to provide a dispensing opening. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 dispensing corner of opening, the article flexing enough to slide.

through the restricted opening. In order to present the ring to the opening it is necessary merely to shake the envelope until a ring slides into the dispensing opening. If more than one ring falls into position it is easy to extract a single ring by holding the thumb against the ring on one side and then moving the finger away from the opening while gripping the rings between the thumb and finger. The friction of the moving finger slides out a single ring by frictional engagement therewith. f

Inasmuch as the rings cannot fall out accidentally the envelope may be used not only as a dispensing device but also as a shipping and storage container.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A package, comprising flexible reinforcing rings of fibrous sheet material and an envelope for the rings having front and back sides integrally joined along two side edges thereof so that the two sides are juxtaposed and having a filling opening at one end of the envelope, a fiap for closing the filling opening, a dispensing opening in a corner at the opposite end of the envelope,

the width of the opening being slightly less than the width of the rings so that each ring has to be compressed slightly to slide through the opening, each ring being compressible by virtue of the opening therein and one side of the envelope being cut away at said dispensing opening inwardly for a distance less than the width of the dispensing opening to aiiord contact by the thumb or finger with a ring presented to the opening, whereby the ring may be removed through the opening.

2. A package comprising flexible reinforcin rings of fibrous sheet material and an envelope for the rings having front and back sides integrally joined along two side edges thereof so that the two sides are juxtaposed and having a filling opening at one end of the envelope, a flap for closing the filling opening, a dispensing opening in a corner at the opposite end of the envelope,

the width of the opening being slightly less than 3. A package comprising flexible reinforcing rings of fibrous sheet material and envelope for the rings having front and back sides, integrally joined along two side edges -r hereoif so that the two sides are juxtaposed and having afilling opening at one end of the envelope, a flap-for clos= ing the filling opening, a dispensing openingin one "Number corner of the envelope, the width of the ODening 7 being slightly less than the width of the rings so that each ring has to be compressed slightly to slide through the-opening, each ring being com pressible by'virT-tue .of the opening therein and one side oi the envelope being cut awayat said die- 2,540,499 f; l f .Iliffii; 1-5

pensing opening inwardly for a distance less than the width of the dipensing opening to afford contact by the thumb or finger with a ring presented to the opening, whereby the ring may be removed through the opening.

HAROLD G. TOWNE.

REFERENCES CITED 3 f i The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Name Date 48 L733 'Flynn- Oct. 18, 1892 1,981,440 :swjift Nov. 20, 1934 2,288,674 Beardsley July 7, 1942 -,12,'3;l-:6,- Z9,6 Lichtel" Apr. 20, 1943 2,448,819 Mitchell Sept. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number :Country Date France May 2 2 191 4 

